Central Government elaborated on the criteria for Kamdhenu Awards

Pashu Sandesh, 13th December 2018

In an answer to a question on the criteria for reward to Farmers and Institutions who are engaged in scientific management of recognised Indigenous cattle breeds, the minister of state for AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE, Kishna Raj informed that theDepartment has instituted ‘National Gopal Ratna’ and ‘National Kamdhenu Award’ under Rahstriya Gokul Mission. Minister also elaborated on the criteria which are as under:

The details of the conditions/criteria for receiving Gopal Ratna and for Kamdhenu Awards

Eligibility

To be eligible for award farmer/breeder society/gaushala/institutional farm shall be maintaining herd of indigenous breed(s), practicing best management practices to enhance milk production and productivity of indigenous breeds and contributing significantly in promoting indigenous breed (s).

Farmers/breeder society/gaushala/institutional farm maintaining any of the recognised indigenous breeds out of 43 breed of cattle and 15 breeds of buffaloes shall be eligible to apply for award.

Procedure

1. State nomination

The State Government shall identify best indigenous breed through milk yield competitions and calf rallies at district and State level under the Chairperson-ship of District Collector and Principal Secretary/Secretary of Animal Husbandry Department respectively. Such District/State level awardees will also be eligible for nomination in addition to open nomination for national Gopal Ratna Awards.

Procedure of Nomination:

For nomination to Kamdhenu Award to the best managed indigenous herd by Institutions/Trusts/NGOs/Gaushalas or Breeders’ Societies, the State has to invite nominations as per the prescribed format provided by Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries

Nomination of farmers to Gopal Ratna awards and Best managed indigenous Herd by institution/Trust/NGOs /Gaushalas or Breeders Society for Kamdhenu award in the prescribed format shall be sent through concerned Gram Panchayats which will be verified physically by the State Government Veterinary Officer (VO) of the jurisdiction. Following initial verification the Veterinary Officer will submit the valid nomination to the District Veterinary Officer (DVO) for verification and counter signature. In turn the DVO will submit the verified application to the Member Secretary of the State Nomination Committee.

State Nomination Committee:

Each State shall constitute a nomination committee with the following composition for recommending to National Awards:

(i) Principal Secretary/Secretary, Dept of Animal Husbandry of the State-Chairperson (ii) DirectorAnimalHusbandry-Member

(iii) Managing Director Milk Federation-Member

(iv) Representative of the State Veterinary University/college-Member

(v) Representative of ICAR institute (CIRB, CIRC, NBAGR and NDRI)-Member

(vi) Representative of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries-CCBF/CHRS-Member

(vii) Chief Executive Officer of LDB-Member Secretary

2. National Awards:

The above nomination committee shall evaluate the recommendations submitted by all the DVOs of the State and assign the score as per the score card prescribed by Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries for Gopal Ratna Award &Kamdhenu Award and prepare the final list of best three nominees for submission to Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries Government of India. The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries after having compiled the information of all the State nominees for National Gopal Ratna and Kamdhenu awards will place it before the National Selection Committee to adjudge Gopal Ratna and Kamdhenu awards.

National Award Committee:

The National Committee consist of the following members for adjudging both National Gopal Ratna and Kamdhenu awards:

(i) Secretary, ADF-Chairperson

(ii) Animal Husbandry Commissioner-Member

(iii) JS (C&DD) - Member

(iv) DDG (AS)-Member

(v) Director Cattle/AC (Cattle)-Member Secretary

The above award committee constituted two members Committee for five regions namely 1. North 2. West 3. South 4. East 5. Hill and North East regions and the committee evaluated the details of the State nominees in both the categories in above 5 regions and assign the score as per the score card for Gopal Ratna Award and Kamdhenu Award and prepare the final list of best three nominees for submission to Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries Government of India and placed it before the National Selection Committee to adjudge Gopal Ratna and Kamdhenu awards. The decision of the award committee for the awards will be final and is binding to all the States and nominees.